My Tooth Hurts: Should I Seek Emergency Dental Care?

No one expects an emergency. Sometimes, it’s hard even to know if a situation is actually an emergency! One of the reasons Century City Smiles and Orthodontics provides emergency dental care is that we understand how startling and confusing it can be. 

Dr. Shawn Saidian keeps some space in his schedule so that he can help patients with emergency dental problems. Here are a few different situations that are emergencies, but not always obviously so. 

Emergencies

Here are just a few emergency scenarios.  

A knocked-out tooth

Your child is playing ball, and a tooth is knocked out. This is an emergency. You should find the tooth, touch only the crown, and put it in a glass of milk or Save-A-Tooth. 

The person who has had the tooth knocked out should rinse their mouth with warm water and tuck a piece of gauze in the socket if necessary. If possible, it’s a good idea to hold the tooth there, but if the tooth is dirty or the bleeding is intense, it’s okay to put it in milk or Save-A-Tooth and gauze on the gum. 

Visible pus

You’ve had a slight toothache, but nothing too wrong, and you plan to talk to Dr. Saidian during your next routine visit. Then, the pain becomes suddenly more intense, and you notice what looks like a pimple on your gum line. 

When you can see pus on your gums or around your tooth, or your gums begin bleeding, you’re experiencing a dental emergency. You may have an abscess and need treatment to prevent the infection from spreading. 

A lost filling

Imagine you're enjoying a delicious treat. Perhaps you're having a treat like a caramel apple or a candy bar. Then, something feels odd, and you notice that you’ve lost a filling. 

When a filling comes out, bacteria and foreign matter can get in your tooth, and it’s an urgent situation. 

A severe toothache

Whether it comes on suddenly or steadily gets worse, a severe toothache that prevents you from eating, speaking, or doing the things you’d typically do is urgent. You may have a deep infection, an abscess, or even a cracked tooth. 

Lacerations and foreign objects

If you fall and you bite your tongue, you have a laceration. Similarly, if you’re in an auto accident and something hits your face, your teeth may cut your cheeks or lips. All kinds of accidents can cause severe lacerations that require emergency dental care. 

It may be surprising to learn that foreign objects frequently get stuck in teeth. Maybe you’re habitually using your teeth to open packages or cut through threads, and something gets caught in your teeth. 

What to do in a dental emergency

The most important thing to do during a dental emergency is to remain as calm as possible. Call our office or schedule an appointment online so that we can prepare for you while you are there. 

You may want to take some over-the-counter pain relievers before you come to our office. You should ensure you have your identification, updated insurance information, and a list of medications you take. 

Once all that is under control, come to our office as quickly as possible. In many cases, how soon you receive treatment can save your tooth.